Chapter 114: Theft in the Library of Scriptures

After stepping through the intangible portal, Xiao Xie noticed that his vision grew much brighter than before, and his gaze toward the pavilion became clearer as well. Evidently, they had truly entered the space lock.

“Heh, thank you, elders.” Standing outside the pavilion, Hu Qian smiled toward the two gray-robed figures seated cross-legged on the ground.

“It’s simply our duty.” The mysterious figures, their bodies wholly enveloped in gray robes, did not move a muscle as their hoarse and indifferent voices slowly sounded.

“You may now enter the Book Repository on your own. Remember, no matter what you wish to obtain, you must not force it. Everything inside is shrouded in an energy layer. If your hand can pass through it without hindrance, then you are permitted to take the item. Of course, no matter how many you can pick up, you may only bring one out with you. Do not be greedy, or you may end up with nothing at all. And if you cannot penetrate the energy layer, just give up—your strength is not yet enough to break through. Every year, people enter the Book Repository, but many leave empty-handed. Everything depends on fate; do not insist on what cannot be yours.” Pointing at the repository, Hu Qian turned to address Xiao Xie and his companions.

Hearing this, the three nodded, exchanged glances, and then slowly stepped toward the repository.

In the tranquil valley, only the soft rustle of footsteps could be heard. Crossing the grass before the pavilion, the three finally set foot on the timeworn, uneven stone steps. Moss covered the stones, making them somewhat slippery, but it posed no obstacle to Xiao Xie and his friends. After a short walk up the steps, they arrived before the repository. Raising their eyes to the ancient plaque, a desolate aura emanated from it, winding around their hearts and lingering long.

“Don’t stare,” Xiao Xie was the first to regain his senses. He grabbed the hands of Qinglin and the Little Doctor Immortal, startling them out of their daze. Their cultivation was still insufficient, and they had been affected by the plaque’s oppressive aura.

“Let’s go inside. The door stays open for only an hour. Whether or not you find what you seek, you must come out when the time is up.” To their left, a gust of wind fluttered the sleeve of one gray-robed man. Then, with a creaking sound, the tightly shut doors slowly opened, revealing a pitch-black passage within.

As the door swung wide, an ancient, desolate breath rushed toward them, and Xiao Xie quickly steadied his mind. Holding Qinglin and the Little Doctor Immortal by the hand, he led them into the Book Repository.

After the trio entered, the large doors groaned as they slowly closed behind them, finally shutting tight.

Watching the doors seal once more, Hu Qian breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “I hope these young ones find something to their liking. To enter the Book Repository of Canaan Academy is a rare fortune indeed—one they must not squander. If they gain something valuable, I doubt they’ll forget the favor from our Outer Courtyard.”

After walking through the repository’s passage for nearly five minutes, a pale yellow light appeared ahead, quickening their steps. Soon, they emerged from the darkness into dazzling brightness, making them involuntarily turn their faces away.

Before them lay an exceptionally spacious chamber. Around its walls were nearly a dozen energy shields, each pulsing with light that illuminated the room as if it were daylight.

Suddenly, a faint whistling sound broke the silence. Though soft, to Xiao Xie and his companions it was as loud as thunder. Instantly, their gazes snapped to one of the energy shields on the left.

“Something seems to be coming out of that one,” the Little Doctor Immortal said, puzzled.

“It’s coming,” Xiao Xie murmured, eyes narrowing. Within the shield, a cluster of purple light burst forth, shooting toward the three of them like a streak of lightning.

Xiao Xie reached out calmly and caught the purple glow in his hand. As the light faded, a scroll wrapped in a layer of purple energy appeared in his grasp.

“Violet Thunder Bat Wings—a high-level Xuan-class flying Dou Technique,” Xiao Xie read aloud from the scroll.

So, the items emerged on their own from these energy shields. The Little Doctor Immortal and Qinglin exchanged looks of realization.

Just then, a flurry of whistling sounds filled the chamber. One after another, orbs of various colors and forms erupted from the energy shields, weaving through the vast room with a resonant whooshing.

“Little Doctor Immortal, Qinglin, go for it!” Xiao Xie laughed.

“Right!” The two nodded and began reaching for the other orbs.

Xiao Xie closed his eyes, focusing his soul power. Sensing an azure orb darting by, he caught it. The blue light faded, revealing a blue scroll. “Azure Light Slash—a high-level Earth-class Dou Technique.”

A faint smile played on Xiao Xie’s lips as he stored the scroll in his veneration space. As he had guessed, items placed there could not be detected by outsiders.

He continued to sense and grab, collecting over a dozen light orbs—each containing top-tier medicinal ingredients or Dou Techniques above Earth-class. After gathering more than ten, he stopped. Even though the veneration space shielded his stash from prying eyes, if too many items vanished from the repository at once, those outside would surely notice. Satisfied with his haul, Xiao Xie held onto a low-level Earth-class Dou Technique and, together with the Little Doctor Immortal and Qinglin, who had also chosen their treasures, turned to leave through the shadowy passage.

As they departed, the swirling energy shields lining the chamber slowly diminished, shrinking to pinpoints before vanishing entirely with a faint crack. The vast room was now utterly empty—no trace of the treasures that moments before would have caused an uproar in the outside world.

Creak—the ancient doors were gently drawn open, and warm sunlight spilled through the gap, casting a long strip of light down the dark corridor to its very end.

With the doors open, Xiao Xie and his companions stepped out and stood on the steps, gazing at the lush valley below. They all breathed a sigh of relief—the atmosphere within the repository had been unbearably oppressive.

At the sound of the door, a gray-robed man’s sleeve fluttered slightly, and the trio immediately sensed a vast, overwhelming, intangible energy sweeping over them. The sheer force of it filled them with shock.

But the energy seemed only to scan them, withdrawing like a receding tide after just ten seconds.

Xiao Xie secretly breathed easier. As expected, outsiders could not probe his veneration space.

“Your time is up. Leave now! Remember, what happened here today—including anything about the repository’s contents—must not be revealed to anyone.” The hoarse, aged voice echoed around the door.

Hu Qian, who had waited before the pavilion, saw the trio emerge and smiled. “You didn’t come back empty-handed, did you?”

Xiao Xie replied with a grateful smile, “Thank you, Vice Dean. Our harvest was quite good this time.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” Hu Qian chuckled, offering a slight bow to the two gray-robed elders by the door. “Since these young ones have returned, I shall not disturb your meditation any longer. Farewell.”

The two gray-robed figures gave no response, nor did Hu Qian mind. Waving to Xiao Xie and his companions, he said, “Come with me.”

Hearing this, the three offered respectful bows to the immobile, cross-legged gray-robed elders. After all, having received such treasures, a gesture of gratitude was only proper. Then, retreating down the stone steps, they turned to follow Hu Qian.

Hu Qian glanced over them, confirming they were unharmed, then clasped his hands in a final salute to the two elders before leading the way toward the invisible portal torn open by the unseen hand.